James Close on scrapping lunch hours and why Michelin has its eye on the North East

In October Michelin-starred chef James Close scrapped the weekday lunch service at his restaurant The Raby Hunt in Darlington after claiming excessive working hours had become ‘demotivating’ for staff.

Two months on the chef told BigHospitality the changes had reduced staff stress and kicked off a broader plan to raise the foodie profile of the North East.

“One of the key reasons for doing this was to get everybody enjoying their job a bit more and I think that’s starting to pay off," said Close.

The Raby Hunt chefs have used the extra time to create new recipes for a development night at the end of each month, and so far four dishes have joined the main menu.

The restaurant has also begun to host a series of guest chefs including Tommy Banks from the Michelin-starred Black Swan in Oldstead.

Close said he was trying to create something with a ‘wow factor’ in the North East.

“You can go to London and see guest chefs at restaurants all the time but no one's ever done it in Darlington” he said.

“We’re hoping to get chefs to come from all around the country and eventually Europe. Being able to bring them to Darlington would be great for the area.”

Michelin calling​

Until the release of the 2016 Michelin Guide The Raby Hunt was the only restaurant in the North East with a Star.